Posted on 10/23/2006 10:24:56 AM PDT by SmithL
I may be in the minority here but I see nothing wrong with the state trying to recover some of the care costs of patients. It's taking nothing from the patients, only their heirs and at that, only money that's owed to the state.
It's a heartbreak, nothing but a heartbreak.
When we were contemplating long term care for a family member, the nursing homes made it abundantly clear that Medicaid did not mean "free" care. It meant Medicaid would go after every dollar in assets from the patient both while alive and after death.
Me, neither.
I have no sympathy for the kids in any case like this.None.
While I see your point, it's still sad when you consider that these folks probably played by the rules their whole lives and yet are still in a position to lose their home. While many in this country use medical services for free and no one goes after their heirs or family members.
When my mother was in a nursing home, my brother applied for Medicaid. Mom passed on before the application was process was completed. But it surprised me when my bro told me Medicaid here in PA did not demand the house. Now, this was a few years ago; perhaps the law has changed. But that's the way it was back then.
That's the part that's wrong. If there are any assets available the free loaders should pay too.
Why would they if the process was not completed?
Poor estate planning. If the family had done its homework, and consulted with an expert, this could have been avoided, all legally.
If so, shouldn't it come out of the big tobacco settlement to pay for health care costs for smokers? /SARC
When I get to the point where someone feels the need to warehouse me, I'll sell my house. For a buck or two, maybe even five.
Here's the problem I have with this.
They're trying to recoup money for nursing home care...no problem. But then why not keep a running tab on all kinds of care given through the "system" and try to recoup that money too.
Why single out nursing home care? If the patient was on long term dialysis or chemotherapy under the program, why not try to recoup that too.
Why just try to recoup the money of those that were in nursing homes?
"I have no sympathy for the kids in any case like this.None."
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I think your right. If the children wanted the house, buy it. Pay their parents for the house. The parents then put the money in the bank and the state can collect for treatment from the parents accounts.
>>>"That was my father's dying wish - to hold onto the house, live in it, take care of it," said Nashville resident Judy Clifford, 66, one of three Henkel children. "That's what he told me, and he gave the house to me." >>>
Then your father should have purchased long term care insurance. It should not be for the tax payers of Tennessee to pay for your fathers care with a perfectly good way to pay sitting there so he can have a dying wish of holding to a house. It was my mothers dying wish not to die, but that didn't happen either.
Because they aren't getting it from the deceased patients but from their heirs.
I do agree that they should go after all assets available from any patient. I pay my bills and tend to believe that everybody else should too.
I am also going to presume that the elderly persons who recieved the care had been tax payers for most of their lives. It is my understanding that insurance for long term care is of course available but may be too costly for a person on a restricted income. In many cases the only way for an elderly person on a fixed income to receive long term care is through medicaid.
I understand the State's wanting to recoup expenses. However I think more is probably lost through fraud then through legitimate care given to those who have paid taxes and are faced with no alternative but to go on Medicaid.
Go after the illegals, the deadbeats, the doctor's who write fraudalent reports and others who are bilking the system. They are the real criminals.
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